Guide 01 · Basics
Grants, scholarships and work-study: the one question that tells them apart
Aid offers use similar words for very different things. One question sorts most of them.
summary
- Ask first: is this a gift, or is it earned? Grants and scholarships are generally gifts toward costs.
- Work-study is a job. You earn it by working, so it is not a lump sum in your account.
- Always read the conditions. Even a gift can carry rules about enrollment and grades.
The question
When a letter, email or web page lists several kinds of help, start with one question for each line: is this a gift, or is it earned? The answer sorts most items into two piles before you read any fine print.
The three common kinds
| Kind | Gift or earned? | How it usually works |
|---|---|---|
| Grant | Gift | Given toward costs when you meet the program’s rules. Often tied to enrollment level. |
| Scholarship | Gift | Awarded for a stated reason, such as achievement, a field of study or background. |
| Work-study | Earned | A part-time job whose pay helps with costs. You are paid for hours worked. |
Where people get confused
Two traps are common. First, some pages use grant as a catch-all word for any kind of help. Second, an award can be listed as one number even though it mixes different kinds of aid. If a total looks large, ask which parts are gifts and which are earned.
Conditions still apply
“A gift” is not the same as “no strings.” Many awards expect you to stay enrolled, make satisfactory academic progress, or renew a form each year. A school’s financial aid office can explain the conditions that apply to your own award.
General information only. Tuitnova is not a school, scholarship provider, or financial aid office, and this is not financial, legal, or tax advice. Programs, rules, and dates vary and change; check with your school’s financial aid office or the official program website.